Day 1: Nassau to Chub Cay
Nautical Miles: 35
Travel Time: 5 hours
Your Berry Islands adventure begins in Nassau with morning provisioning and departure from one of the capital's marinas. Set course northwest across the shallow banks toward Chub Cay, the southern gateway to the Berry Islands chain. The passage takes you across the yellow banks north and west of New Providence, requiring careful attention to navigation as you follow your plotted route through shallow water. As you progress northwest, the busy environment of Nassau gradually fades behind while ahead the low profile of Chub Cay emerges from the brilliant turquoise water. The island sits at the southern end of the Berry chain, positioned dramatically along the edge of the Tongue of the Ocean where the shallow banks drop away into the deep trench.
Navigate into Chub Cay marina and take one of the available slips, appreciating the excellent facilities after your crossing from Nassau. This private island resort caters primarily to game fishermen attracted by the proximity to the Tongue of the Ocean, but welcomes all visiting yachts with fuel, water, provisions, restaurants, and comfortable accommodations. Spend your afternoon exploring the island, swimming off the beautiful beaches, or fishing from the nearby drop-off where the bottom plunges from 20 feet to thousands in a matter of yards. The marina provides a good transition point between Nassau and the more remote northern Berry Islands you will explore over the coming days. As evening settles, enjoy dinner at the marina restaurant while meeting other cruisers and perhaps sport fishermen celebrating their catches from the legendary Tongue of the Ocean. The peaceful atmosphere and reduced boat traffic compared to Nassau provide a preview of the quiet cruising that defines the Berry Islands experience.
Route Highlights - Departing Nassau and crossing northwest toward the remote Berry Islands chain.
- Arriving at Chub Cay marina along the dramatic edge of the Tongue of the Ocean.
- Exploring the island and experiencing world-class fishing grounds near the deep-water drop-off.
Day 2: Chub Cay to Great Harbour Cay
Nautical Miles: 25
Travel Time: 4 hours
Depart Chub Cay and set course north through the Berry Islands toward Great Harbour Cay, the largest settlement in the chain. The passage takes you through protected shallow waters inside the barrier, with the dramatic deep blue of the Tongue of the Ocean visible to the west creating a striking contrast with the turquoise shallows. Navigation requires attention as you pick your way through the scattered cays and coral heads, but the clear water allows you to easily see the bottom and identify safe passages. Great Harbour Cay represents the closest thing to an established community in the Berry Islands, though it remains remarkably quiet and undeveloped compared to most Bahamas settlements.
Navigate into the protected harbour and take a slip at the marina or anchor in the designated areas. Great Harbour Cay offers the best facilities in the Berry Islands, with a marina, fuel, water, small grocery store, and a couple of restaurants. The settlement features an airstrip, a handful of homes and businesses, and beautiful beaches along both the western protected side and the dramatic eastern Atlantic coast. Spend your afternoon exploring the island by golf cart or on foot, visiting the spectacular Atlantic beaches where powerful surf creates dramatic conditions, or relaxing on the calm western beaches perfect for swimming. The small community provides friendly local interaction and the opportunity to provision for the more remote anchorages ahead. Walk to the northern beaches for excellent shelling, or explore the interior trails. As evening approaches, enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants while reflecting on how peaceful and uncrowded the Berry Islands feel compared to more popular Bahamas destinations. Tomorrow brings your passage to the famous blue hole at Hoffman's Cay, one of the highlights of any Berry Islands charter.
Route Highlights - Cruising north through the Berry Islands with the Tongue of the Ocean visible to the west.
- Arriving at Great Harbour Cay, the largest settlement and best facilities in the chain.
- Exploring dramatic Atlantic surf beaches and calm protected western shores by golf cart.
Day 3: Great Harbour Cay to Hoffman's Cay
Nautical Miles: 12
Travel Time: 2 hours
Today brings one of the most anticipated experiences of any Berry Islands charter: the spectacular inland blue hole on Hoffman's Cay. Depart Great Harbour Cay and set course north toward this small uninhabited island. The short passage allows for a leisurely morning departure while arriving with plenty of time to explore this remarkable natural wonder. Hoffman's Cay sits among the northern Berry Islands, a low scrub-covered cay that conceals one of the Bahamas' most impressive blue holes. These geological formations were created during ice ages when sea levels dropped dramatically and freshwater dissolved the limestone bedrock, creating vertical shafts and caverns that flooded when sea levels rose again.
Anchor off Hoffman's Cay in the protected western anchorage and dinghy ashore to explore the island. Follow the trail inland through low scrub vegetation toward the center of the island where the blue hole lies hidden. As you approach, the massive circular opening suddenly appears, a perfectly round pool approximately 200 feet across with impossibly deep blue water visible through the clear surface. Descend carefully into the blue hole for one of the most surreal swimming experiences imaginable, floating in water that plunges hundreds of feet straight down through a flooded limestone shaft. The walls descend vertically beneath you, creating both exhilaration and mild vertigo. The water inside the blue hole remains remarkably clear and calm, protected from wind and currents by the surrounding rock walls. Strong swimmers can explore the underwater caves and passages that branch off from the main shaft, though proper equipment and caution are essential. Spend your afternoon alternating between blue hole exploration and relaxing on the beaches surrounding the anchorage. As evening approaches, enjoy sundowners in the cockpit while reflecting on this unique natural wonder hidden on a remote Berry Island.
Route Highlights - Sailing north to Hoffman's Cay, home of one of the Bahamas' most spectacular blue holes.
- Swimming in the massive inland blue hole with its impossibly deep blue water and vertical walls.
- Exploring underwater caves and passages in this remarkable geological formation.
Day 4: Hoffman's Cay to Little Harbour Cay
Nautical Miles: 8
Travel Time: 1.5 hours
Depart Hoffman's Cay after a final morning swim in the blue hole and set course south toward Little Harbour Cay, one of the prettiest anchorages in the northern Berry Islands. The short passage allows you to explore different areas of the northern cays, with options to detour for additional snorkeling or beach stops depending on conditions and interests. These northern Berry Islands remain largely uninhabited, creating a wilderness cruising experience where anchorages often host just one or two yachts despite offering excellent protection and beautiful surroundings. The clear water and scattered coral heads require attentive navigation but create ideal conditions for spotting rays, turtles, and sharks gliding over the sandy bottom below.
Navigate into Little Harbour Cay and anchor in the well-protected basin surrounded by beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling sites. This anchorage epitomizes Berry Islands cruising: pristine natural environment, excellent protection, beautiful beaches, and typically just a handful of other yachts enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Spend your afternoon exploring the beaches that ring the anchorage, snorkeling the coral heads and reefs that dot the area, or simply relaxing in the cockpit soaking up the tranquil atmosphere. The beaches here feature powder-white sand and water so clear you can count individual shells on the bottom in 15 feet of depth. Walk the uninhabited cay to discover interior salt ponds and elevated viewpoints overlooking the surrounding waters. The lack of development and minimal visitor traffic create a genuine escape from civilization. As evening settles over your peaceful anchorage, enjoy dinner aboard while watching the sun set over the banks and reflecting on the privilege of experiencing these pristine islands before increased tourism discovers their beauty.
Route Highlights - Cruising south through the pristine northern Berry Islands toward Little Harbour Cay.
- Anchoring in the well-protected basin surrounded by beautiful beaches and coral heads.
- Exploring uninhabited wilderness with powder-white beaches and crystal-clear water.
Day 5: Little Harbour Cay to Whale Cay
Nautical Miles: 10
Travel Time: 2 hours
Depart Little Harbour Cay and set course south toward Whale Cay, an interesting private island with both historical significance and excellent facilities. The passage takes you back through the central Berry Islands, maintaining the peaceful cruising conditions and spectacular water clarity that define this region. Whale Cay has an intriguing history, having been purchased in the 1930s by a wealthy American who developed it extensively with a manor house, marina, and airstrip. The island later served various purposes including a private estate and resort, and continues to welcome visiting yachts to its excellent marina facilities.
Navigate into Whale Cay marina and take one of the available slips, appreciating the protected facilities and services after several nights on anchor in more remote locations. The marina offers fuel, water, electricity, and excellent protection. Explore the island on foot or by bicycle if available, discovering the remains of the historic development including the old manor house and other structures that tell the story of this unique private island. The beaches around Whale Cay provide beautiful swimming and snorkeling opportunities, while the marina facilities offer comfortable amenities including hot showers. The island occupies a strategic position in the Berry chain, making it a popular stop for yachts transiting between the northern cays and southern destinations. Spend your afternoon exploring the island's history and natural beauty, or simply relaxing at the marina while enjoying the peaceful Berry Islands atmosphere. As evening approaches, prepare for tomorrow's passage back to Chub Cay, beginning your return journey toward Nassau.
Route Highlights - Sailing south to historic Whale Cay with its intriguing 1930s development and excellent marina.
- Exploring the remains of the old manor house and learning about the island's unique history.
- Enjoying marina facilities and beautiful beaches after remote northern anchorages.
Day 6: Whale Cay to Chub Cay
Nautical Miles: 15
Travel Time: 2.5 hours
Depart Whale Cay and set course south back toward Chub Cay, retracing part of your outbound route as you begin the return journey toward Nassau. The passage takes you through the central and southern Berry Islands, passing familiar landmarks from earlier in the week but now approached from the opposite direction and providing different perspectives. The consistent good weather and protected cruising conditions typical of the Berry Islands make for comfortable sailing as you work your way south. The proximity to the Tongue of the Ocean remains visible to the west, with the dramatic color change from shallow turquoise to deep indigo marking the edge of the underwater trench.
Navigate back into Chub Cay marina and take one of the available slips, settling into the familiar facilities where your Berry Islands exploration began. This return to Chub Cay provides an opportunity to fuel and provision for tomorrow's passage back to Nassau, stock up on any supplies at the marina store, and enjoy the resort facilities one final time. Spend your afternoon fishing from the nearby drop-off if conditions permit, exploring the island beaches you may have missed on your arrival day, or simply relaxing at the marina. As your penultimate evening in the Berry Islands approaches, enjoy dinner at the marina restaurant while reflecting on a week of uncrowded anchorages, pristine beaches, the spectacular blue hole at Hoffman's Cay, and the peaceful cruising that defines this less-visited corner of the Bahamas. Tomorrow brings your return to Nassau, but the memories of the quiet Berry Islands will remain long after your charter ends.
Route Highlights - Cruising south through the Berry Islands back toward Chub Cay.
- Returning to familiar Chub Cay marina and preparing for tomorrow's passage to Nassau.
- Final fishing, beach exploration, and reflection on a week in the quiet Berry Islands.
Day 7: Chub Cay to Nassau
Nautical Miles: 35
Travel Time: 5 hours
Your final day brings the passage from Chub Cay back southeast across the shallow banks toward Nassau. Depart at a reasonable hour to allow plenty of time for the crossing and arrival before dark. The route retraces your outbound passage but from the opposite direction, requiring the same careful attention to navigation as you work your way across the banks toward New Providence. The Berry Islands gradually diminish astern as you progress southeast, while ahead the tall buildings and cruise ships of Nassau eventually become visible on the horizon. The contrast between the quiet week you have just experienced and the busy capital you are approaching provides stark evidence of how different the Berry Islands character remains from more developed Bahamas destinations.
Navigate carefully into Nassau harbor through the commercial and cruise ship traffic, securing your yacht at the check-in marina where your Berry Islands adventure began a week earlier. Complete your checkout procedures and spend your final evening enjoying Nassau's restaurants and entertainment, or simply relaxing aboard while reflecting on approximately 135 nautical miles of cruising through one of the Bahamas' least-visited regions. You have experienced the Berry Islands as few charter guests do: swimming in the spectacular blue hole at Hoffman's Cay, anchoring off deserted beaches in the northern cays, cruising along the dramatic edge of the Tongue of the Ocean, and enjoying peaceful anchorages where your yacht was often the only vessel for miles. The uncrowded nature, pristine conditions, and unique attractions like the blue hole have revealed a side of the Bahamas that remains refreshingly uncommercialized and authentic. These memories of the quiet Berry Islands will provide a striking contrast to more crowded destinations and likely inspire future returns to this beautiful, peaceful corner of the Bahamas.
Route Highlights - Making the return passage southeast from Chub Cay back to Nassau.
- Navigating into busy Nassau harbor after a week in the quiet Berry Islands.
- Completing your 135-nautical-mile exploration of this uncrowded Bahamas gem.
